Today's special deal is Expandadrive, which is being offered for US$19.95; the regular price is $39.95. To take advantage of this special pricing go to http://www.mupromo.com/deal/1824/6603/expandrive . Expandrive is an app that makes remotely connected drives show up like any other drive plugged directly into your Mac. If you lose your connection to the remote drive it automatically reconnects. Expandrive seamlessly adds FTP, SFTP and Amazon S3 TO Finder and Explorer.

Kingston Digital (http://www.kingston.com) has announced the DataTraveler Elite 3.0, which is based on the USB 3.0 standard. It's Mac OS X compatible, but will only run at USB 2.0 speeds since Apple has officially supported USB 3.0. In internal testing, DataTraveler Elite 3.0 was approximately two times faster than a standard USB 2.0 Flash drive copying over 22GB worth of data, says ndrew Ewing, Flash memory business manager, Kingston. The testing was done with a single Blu-ray movie, over 10,000 photos and more than 4,000 songs. DataTraveler Elite 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0. Available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, DataTraveler Elite 3.0 features a capless and retractable design to protect the USB connector, allowing users to keep the drive with them at all times as it can be easily attached to a key ring or lanyard.

The National Center for Public Policy Research (http://www.nationalcenter.org/) says former Vice President and current member of Apple's Board of Directors, Al Gore, is facing a conflict of interest in his duties in the latter position. The Center, which submitted a shareholder proposal warning Appleabout potential conflicts of interest involving Gore in February, is now calling attention to what it says is a new potential conflict of interest directly involving Gore. It has recently been revealed that Apple's massive new North Carolina data center will be powered by fuel cell technology supplied by Bloom Energy, a company whose investors include the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where Gore is a partner. 

 The 4.8-megawatt power facility is reported to be the biggest fuel cell facility ever built by a non-utility company. Fuel cell technology uses hydrogen or natural gas to generate electricity by an electro-chemical process that does not involve...

In a note to clients -- as reported by "Barron's" (http://macte.ch/WaU4a) -- Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White, who rates Apple shares as "buy" with an US$1,001 price target, says "the buzz around the new iPhone 5 is growing in Asia and speculation around the timing of the launch has begun." He says the inclusion of a 4G wireless connection in what he expects to be a new, “sleek” iPhone frame with a 4-inch screen should lead to a December quarter debut that "could be extraordinary, dwarfing previous launches and driving the stock closer to our $1,001 price target." White thinks component production will start in June, but a formal introduction of the next gen Apple iPhone likely won't happen until August or September.

BTIF analyst Walter Piecyk tells clients in a note that he's downgraded Apple stock from "buy" to "neutral." Why? According to "Business Insider" (http://macte.ch/mSasr), here are the key points behind the Piecky's reasoning: ° Apple will have another blowout quarter. Revenue will be US$40 billion for the second quarter vs. current estimates of $36 billion. But that's where the good news ends. ° 2012 will be the year that the wireless carriers fight back against having their margins constantly squeezed. Specifically, they say that new new policies (especially from AT&T) will stunt the pace of product upgrades, depriving Apple of sales. ° So, in the third quarter, there will be a sequential decline in iPhone sales, and revenue will come in $1 billion below the current consensus.

Apple is on the verge of doing what few others have: change the English language, according to "The Daily Record" (http://macte.ch/aAzZM). If you want to buy a tablet computer, there’s a good chance there’s only one name you’ll remember -- the iPad, the article adds. "For the vast majority, the idea of a tablet is really captured by the idea of an iPad," says Josh Davis, a manager at Abt Electronics in Chicago, told "The Daily Record." "They gave birth to the whole category and brought it to life." This is both good and bad. "Companies spend millions to create a brand," notes "The Daily Record." "Then, they spend millions more on marketing that can have the unintended consequence of making those names so popular that they become shorthand for similar products."

Phix Software has introduced iPhix 1.0 for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher). It costs US$3.99 and is available exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Photography and Productivity categories. iPhix lets you customize your images in the way you want. You can apply filters or adjustments to pictures and share them online. In the filter gallery are two categories of filters to apply to your picture. You have a range of preset filters at your disposal that you can fine tune to your preferences. Press the share button and your picture is pushed to the iPhix Cloud servers. A shortlink is created that you can share with your friends on various social networks.

One of the busiest week’s in awhile is coming up on "The MUG Event Calendar." Apple Senior Systems Engineer Dave Marra will present to a Pennsylvania group, while Apple’s Michael Mills will do the same in North Carolina. Andy Ihnatko will make his annual visit to a Colorado group, while Dave Hamilton of "The Mac Geek Gab "and "Mac Observer" will discuss home networking with a New Jersey group. Smile will have a double-header presence when Jean MacDonald presents to a Colorado group and Maia Olson visits a Texas group, and Ian Schray of WellReadApps will show off DropKey to an Oregon group. Other topics on the agenda for the week include astronomy apps, Lion, QuickTime, Final Cut X, Pages, Skype, iCat, FaceTime, photo retouching, audiobooks and much more. "The MUG Event Calendar" can be found at The MUG Center (http://www.mugcenter.com), an online resource for Mac User Groups. MUGs are good places for making new friends in the Mac community, improving your computing skills, finding...

Take Control Publishing has version 1.1 of Tonya Engst's "Take Control of Your iPad," Completely updated for the third-generation iPad and all the changes in iOS 5.1, the 188-page ebook is available for US$15 at http://tid.bl.it/your-ipad-ebook . "Take Control of Your iPad" is designed to work at two levels. The person just getting started will learn about the special hardware components in the iPad, take a tour of the parts and ports on the edge of the iPad, and find tips on key accessories. Engst provides advice on how best to answer questions asked by the Setup Assistant -- including Location Services, Wi-Fi and cellular data Internet connections, Apple ID, iCloud, and Voice Dictation -- plus assistance with setting up services that the Setup Assistant doesn't handle, including the passcode lock, Bluetooth and tethered connections, notifications, and an effective custom iTunes sync. The book also has real-world advice on buying and managing third-party apps. On the other hand, if...

Ace Slot Machine Casino is the follow-up to the Mac version of the iPhone/iPad app, Ace Slots Casino. It's a slot machine gaming app. Ace Slot Machine Casino comes with six different slot machines. There are bonus games to maximize your winnings and a leveling system. Ace Slot Machine Casino requires Mac OS X 10.7 or later. It's free and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Games category.

Starting Sunday, April 8, AT&T will begin allowing out-of-contract iPhone customers the ability to unlock their Apple smartphones and using them with another carrier. In a statement the company said: "... we will offer qualifying customers the ability to unlock their AT&T iPhones. The only requirements are that a customer's account must be in good standing, their device cannot be associated with a current and active term commitment on an AT&T customer account, and they need to have fulfilled their contract term, upgraded under one of our upgrade policies or paid an early termination fee." Up until now iPhone customers who fulfilling the terms of their two-year AT&T contract couldn't have their smartphone unlocked by the carrier. As of April 8, any micro-SIM can be used by the iPhone.

Five people in southern China have been charged with intentional injury in the case of a Chinese teenager who sold a kidney so he could buy an iPhone and an iPad, reports the government-run Xinhua News Agency -- as noted by "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/sNgtO). IPhones start at 3,988 yuan ($633), and iPads begin at 2,988 yuan ($474). The five included a surgeon who removed a kidney from a 17-year-old boy -- purportedly from Anhui, one of China's poorest provinces -- in April last year. The boy, identified only by his surname Wang, now suffers from renal deficiency, Xinhua quoted prosecutors in Chenzhou city, according to "Reuters." According to the Xinhua account, one of the defendants received about 220,000 yuan (about $35,000) to arrange the transplant. He paid Wang 22,000 yuan and split the rest with the surgeon, the three other defendants and other medical staff. The report didn't say who received and paid for the kidney.

Intel and Qualcomm have provided U.S. lawyers with source code that will help prove Apple isn’t infringing Samsung patents, reports "Bloomberg" (http://macte.ch/ubgsX). Attorneys in the U.S. have inspected the code and Intel and Qualcomm have agreed to provide it to lawyers involved in a patent dispute in Australia, Andrew Fox, Apple’s lawyer, said at a hearing in Sydney, the article adds. Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four continents.

MacTech Magazine has added a special bonus presentation for attendees of MacTech Boot Camp and MacTech InDepth: OS X Server Administration in New York City on April 18-19. The bonus presentation will include a special panel with industry editors about how news is selected and written about, as well as how to generate media coverage. MacTech's double event in New York is part of its massive tour including 15 events spanning the country. The well-received MacTech Boot Camp is designed specifically for small- to medium-sized business consultants wanting to serve their base better and grow their business. MacTech InDepth: OS X Server Administration is specifically designed for those wanting to maximize their use of OS X Server for mobile device management, deployment, DNS, and other services. MacTech has added a special bonus session for attendees at our New York events this month. The panel, held at 6 pm on April 18, will feature TUAW Editor Michael T. Rose, TidBITS Publisher Adam Engst...

QuickerTek has announced its fourth generation external battery and charger (http://macte.ch/4V6uY) for all MacBook Air laptops. Actually, the USS$429.95 battery and charger recharges and powers everything from the iPad, to iPods to iPhones to laptops. QuickerTek uses Lithium Ion Polymer Batteries with highest charge density available to date, resulting in longer computer run times from the lightest external battery for Macs, according to President Rick Estes. It weighs 2.15 pounds and is less than an inch thick.se. The External Battery and Charger uses the standard Apple MagSafe power adapter to charge and use the fourth generation Battery. The battery has a 5.1v @ 2.0 amp USB "iDevice" port for iPod, iPad and iPhones and most, if not all, USB devices.

Gertrudis Graphics has updated GMX-PhotoPainter (http://www.gertrudisgraphics.com/gmx-photopainter-information) for Mac OS X (10.5 and higher) to version 2.0. The upgrade adds custom color selection and Custom Brushes Import. GMX-PhotoPainter is a US$59 standalone software solution that transforms an image (generally a photo) into an original artwork. With GMX-PhotoPainter, artists can start with an existing picture such as from a digital camera or scanner, a 3D rendering or painting from another program or imaging application. GMX-PhotoPainter first performs a topological analysis of the image's content and builds a matrix of flow direction vectors. Users can then paint a few quick strokes across the desired features of their image. GMX-PhotoPainter uses this information to generate something that looks more like hand-drawn masterpieces. While one of the main goals of GMX-PhotoPainter is enabling users to create their own styles, there are a number of standard, "ready to use" styles...

Here are the latest incremental updates for Mac OS X apps. Passware (http://www.lostpassword.com/) -- a provider of password recovery, decryption, and electronic evidence discovery software for computer forensics, law enforcement organizations, government agencies and private investigators -- has announced Passware Kit 11.5, which includes enhances that allow computer forensics experts to extract passwords for several Apple-related devices and QuickBooks databases. Goya Pty (http://www.goya.com.au/) has released BaseElements 3.5.0, an update to their FileMaker developer tool. With BaseElements, you can analyze and document FileMaker database solutions. Version 3.5.0 adds support for the new FileMaker Pro 12.

Apple has reportedly received approval to begin selling iPad 2 units assembled by Foxconn at its new factories in Brazil in the same country, reports "MacRumors" (http://www.macrumors.co). The locally assembled 16GB iPad 2, which sells for $399 in the U.S., has received the proper certification to go on sale in Brazil, the article adds. The Brazil-built iPad 2 units are expected to be available alongside regular units built in China, also by Foxconn. Apple's new iPad has apparently not yet received approval for sale, whether assembled in Brazil or China, notes "MacRumors."

In a note to clients -- as reported by "Barron's (http://macte.ch/fPdoA) -- Jefferies & Company analyst Peter Misek raised his price target on Apple from US$699 to $800 due to "increased confidence" the company will introduce a television set. He's raised his fiscal 2013 (for the year ending September) estimate to $214 billion, well above the Street consensus of $187 billion. Interestingly, Misek has decided that an Apple-branded HDTV will be dubbed the "iPanel" instead of the much-rumored "iTV" moniker. Why? It's "far more than a TV," serving as a display, gaming center, media hub, computer, home automator and more. He also notes that the iTV name is owned by an U.K. company of the same name, which has global rights. What's more, Misek says that the "iPanel" name is owned by Crestron, "which discontinued its product line and is focusing more on Apple products to integrate in their system."

Apple and two major publishing houses, Macmilian and Penguin -- are reluctant to settle the ebook price-fixing investigations from the US and Europe, reports "The Wall Street Journal" (http://macte.ch/PN3jj). However, the "situation remains fluid" and those positions could change as the Justice Department edges closer to filing an antitrust suit, the article adds. The Department has mulled suing Apple and the publishers for conspiring to raise the price of electronic books. According to the "WSJ," the case centers on Apple's move to change the way that publishers charged for e-books as it prepared to introduce its first iPad in 2010. Traditionally, publishers sold books to retailers for roughly half of the recommended cover price. Under that "wholesale model," booksellers were then free to offer those books to customers for less than the cover price if they wished. Apple suggested moving to an "agency model," under which the publishers would set the price of the book and Apple would...

According to an internal AppleCare document as reported by "9to5Mac" (http://macte.ch/XaAfs), Apple is investigating a series of Wi-Fi-related issues affecting the new iPad. Since its launch, some users have complained about issues ranging from connection drops, slow download and upload speeds, or the device’s inability to even pickup local WiFi networks. A thread discussing the issue (http://macte.ch/7FIre) exists on Apple’s online support forums has almost amassed 700 replies from users with similar issues, notes "9to5Mac."

Apple has updated iAd Producer (http://developer.apple.com/iad/iadproducer/) -- its tool for developers and designers who want to "design and assemble high-impact, interactive content for iAd" -- to version 2.1. The upgrade adds support for the Retina display on the new iPad, Twitter integration, and the ability to include WebGL content. iAd Producer automatically manages the HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript behind your iAd. For advanced developers, iAd Producer offers sophisticated JavaScript editing and debugging, along with a powerful extension mechanism that enables them to create and re-use their own page templates and components iAd Producer is available for download on Apple’s developer web site. It requires Mac OS X 10.6.5, Safari 5 and iOS SDK 4.0.

Macmanus Company has introduces Stationery for Mail 1.0, now available on the Mac App Store n the Graphics & Design category. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later and costs US$4.99. Stationery for Mail contains 50 Stationery templates for Apple's Mail. The templates are grouped into seven categories, including "Holidays," "Invitations," "Destination," "Formal," "Sentimental," "Special Occasions" and "Miscellaneous." The Miscellaneous category is a mix of various templates for everyday use. To use Stationery for Mail you just need a Mac with Apple's Mail.

Electric Peel Software has announced Note-A-Lator for Mac 2.0, their music reading and theory quiz program for Mac OS X. The upgrade features a new interface, as well as new key, scale, interval and chord  identification quizzes. Note-A-Lator is designed to help students learn to read music and practice music theory by giving them customizable quizzes. It also allows music teachers to make and print quizzes to give to their students. Note-A-Lator 2.0 costs US$9.99 and requires Mac OS X 10.7.x ("Lion"). It's available xclusively through the Mac App Store.